Paavo Halonen

Ison kiven juureen (2020)

In his artworks, Paavo Halonen works with imagery related to myths and folklore, where culture and nature intertwine more intimately than in reality. This romantic concept of Finnish nature is primed into an aesthetic installation.

Halonen utilizes various natural materials, combining them with old objects that have often lost their practical use. His large bricolages may include toy horses that don’t rock anymore, stuffed birds that have outlived their use in biology classes, rizas without icons and swan feathers found at the lake.

Halonen dares to shamelessly approach romantic pathos and mythical romance. He travels their border so skilfully that the viewer is overcome into ignoring any cynical thoughts. It is wonderful to have a sculptor for whom beauty has intrinsic value.